A Subtle Christmas Transition

Its sometimes strange to realize that Nativity scenes did not always have an array of cute farm animals and adoring idealized figures. Such as my creche display of precious moments figurines I inherited from my mother:

But originally Mary was depicted, as every post birth mother should be, reclining happily (or not so happily), having survived the terribly dangerous but completely necessary function of child birth. As seen here by Giovanni Pisano on the pulpit in the Cathedral at Pisa:

See, Mary doesn't look to happy here. She's exhausted, and she is reaching for her baby because she knows whats going to happen to it, and all the strife she is going to go through because of him. Not to mention his strife too, that's important.

And that might be the reason there is a huge change in the way the nativity scene is depicted. The church, seeing up north the cult of the virgin going way too far. Ie: the Notre Dames popping up in every city with momentous portal sculpture to her name. Along with all kinds of scenes that weren't in the bible but only in some story that talks about her life, death, assumption, and coronation. No where in the bible does it even mention her as being divine. But she got crowned queen of heaven anyway. The Roman gods would've thrown a fit.

Regardless, the Pope didn't want the virgin being exalted more than himself. And neither did the houty-touty rulers of communal governments in Italy. They were in charge, and Jesus Christ was their savior, not his mother.

And along came St. Bridgette, who had wild visions about the Virgin and Christ's birth. She didn't see Mary bent over in agony, or drowsily sleeping in the bed, the virgin was kneeling praying at the feet of her glowing son/sun Jesus.

Obviously, St. Bridgette never had any children. For one, any baby would be crying up a storm, laying there all cold and unswaddled. And If I was Mary, I would be throwing stuff at Joesph until he found me a proper bed to sleep in. But that's me, creature of comfort I am.

So, this is why all nativity scenes anymore look like the above. Mary clearly amazed that her baby is glowing, shes forgotten about the pain that she just went through and the pain she is going to have. Which, is certainly something to think about. Besides HOW ON EARTH DO WE DEPICT A GLOWING BABY? question artists faced, there is also the question about why this was adopted by everyone so quickly. Theologically at least. Certainly, the image of the exhausted Mary is easier for women to relate to. So could this change only have taken place to help encourage men to seek the wisdom of Mary?

Thoughts for your Christmas Eve. Marry Christmas! May ponderous thoughts of art dance with Abbot Suger and candy canes in your heads. (See, he has a candy cane!)